I'll take peer-reviewed studies that measure the actual thing over a survey that measures folks’ OPINIONS about the thing.
Over the years, I have seen peer-reviewed research that fails to support your bare, unsupported assertion - that the vast majority of child molesters are married men.
I've never seen a peer-reviewed study that directly measures the attribute that supports your unsupported assertion.
As for the opinions of mental health professionals, I'll say this. When I was a student in a clinical psychology Ph.D. program, the concept of mandatory reporting by health professionals of child sex abuse was a hot topic, just starting to gain traction in legislatures. Our professors, to a man and woman, were aghast that anyone would force psychotherapists, or any other health professional, to report child sex abuse.
Interestingly, every single student in my class, whether liberal or conservative, supported such legislation, to the horror of our faculty.
Whose perceptions were better? Students or faculty?
sitetest
Dear sitetest,
In the courses I have taken both for the public school and church positions I have filled, usually the pedophile is a person the child knows — the parent, teacher, coach or youth minister — and most of them seem to be leading a normal life.
So watch out if you know someone (a parent) who might lean this way, coaches the girls’ basketball team, teaches math is high school and is the youth minister!
All parameters need not be present to indicate a pedophile, but the person is a probable entry at the top of the list.
Well then you should be able to do your own survey of the research.
“unsupported”
I would call this an argument from authority since professionals who treat these people are generally considered as such. Actually my assertion was about pedophiles only not those who pursue teenagers. Child molester studies like the one with the characteristics list often mix the populations together.
Your argument is that you don’t recognize the authority of the opinion. Fair enough. But your reason for that is that they’re immoral??? I don’t see how morals (because someone won’t or will report crimes) means they can (students) or can’t (professionals) describe the population that produces the crime.
On reporting sex crimes ....the Catholic Church has defended the sanctity of confession on this very issue. Is it immoral too?